Rejecting the CBI plea for in-camera trial of the Haren Pandya murder case, a special POTA court today said it saw no reason to prevent the media from reporting the proceedings at this point. The court also reserved for September 17 its order on the bail plea of Asgar Ali who is alleged to have shot Pandya.The CBI had filed an application under POTA sections 30 (3) (D) and 30 (2), seeking to ‘‘prevent media from publication of court proceedings in the Haren Pandya murder case and the attempted murder of VHP leader Jagdish Tiwari.’’The CBI had also sought holding proceedings inside the Central Jail premises here, seeking in-camera trial of the Pandya murder case under POTA section 30 (1).CBI special counsel J.M. Panchal argued the anti-terror law had been invoked with the aim to curb terrorism and organised crime. He said the proceedings, if published, would help terrorist groups learn of mistakes committed by the accused.He said publication of proceedings and TV interviews could influence witnesses. But the court ruled that preventing media from publication or screening was not necessary at this point of time.
